Dow Jones Industrial Average Ends Higher on Oil, Earnings

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) spent the day higher, as stocks reacted to a handful of earnings beats, including another big bank win, this time courtesy of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS). Elsewhere, Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) earnings and rising crude oil boosted energy stocks, as oil futures tapped 15-month highs after a surprise inventories drawdown and positive comments from Saudi Arabia's oil minister. Traders also digested the release of the Federal Reserve's Beige Book, which pointed to modest to moderate growth rates in most of the country, while Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan said inflation is "likely firming" and called for a gradual increase in interest rates. 

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

• The $390 million healthcare sale that has traders and analysts doubtful.
• How traders reacted to Muddy Waters' "shocking" video.
• 3 signs investors haven't been this nervous since the Brexit.
• Plus... Intel's bad day, a coffee company's expansion plans, and a PayPal earnings preview.
  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 18,202.62) finished higher for the day, with a gain of 40.7 points, or 0.2%. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) led the 20 Dow winners, with a gain of 1.9%, while Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) had the biggest losses of the 10 Dow losers, ending 5.9% lower after earnings.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,144.29) rose 4.7 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,246.41) gained 2.6 points, or 0.1%.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 14.41) fell 0.9 point, or 5.7%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) reached an agreement with CBS Corporation (NYSE:CBS) to carry CBS programming on its web television service, beginning next quarter. (CNBC)
2. The Department of Transportation is once again debating whether or not to require airlines to include baggage and other fees when listing ticket prices. (USA Today)
   
3. Is Tableau Software Inc (NYSE:DATA) being targeted? 
4. The cult-favorite coffee stock making gains on promises to more-than-double these locations.
5. Will PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PYPL) notch an earnings win, or will it be another quarter of defeat? 
   
   

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities:

November-dated crude futures rose $1.31, or 2.6%, finishing the day at $51.60 per barrel -- a 15-month high. Black gold was boosted by a surprise drop in domestic inventories, with a weekly drawdown of 5.2 million barrels, compared to expectations for a surge of 2.5 million barrels.

December-dated gold futures gained $7, or 0.5%, to close at $1,269.90 per ounce. Uncertainty about the timing of a potential interest rate increase served to boost the precious metal for the third day in a row.